The Safety Person of the Year Award recognizes an employee of an ASLRRA Class II or Class III member railroad who works with management on effective safety programs, exhibits a high degree of safety awareness and contributes off-duty time to activities promoting safety awareness in the community.
On paper, ASLRRA Safety Person of the Year Joe Wilcox’s eight years in the railroad industry make him a relative newcomer. But on the job, Wilcox brings the focus, insight and leadership of a senior team member.
As a conductor and engineer at Watco’s industrial switching operation in Plaquemine, Louisiana, Wilcox is known for his active participation. He always comes to meetings prepared and ready to contribute, offering up relevant safety-related topics for discussion and providing valuable insight that enhances his colleagues’ understanding and awareness of safety alerts or the rule of the week. He also promotes a culture of safety within his department.
Wilcox’s knowledge and enthusiasm have made him stand out. Watco University Director Ken Killingsworth took time to write to Wilcox’s supervisors after working with him during a Peer Trainer class, noting how impressed he was with Wilcox and his work.
“Joe is easily one of the most talented team members I have seen in the Peer Trainer Course this year,” wrote Killingsworth. “I think what really made Joe stand out in my eyes was his ability to see the big picture and connect it to his role as a peer trainer. We have a constructive-feedback role play activity toward the end of day two. Frankly, he sounded like a seasoned manager coaching a team member. I have been facilitating the Peer Trainer Course for two years now and never seen a team member tackle that activity as well as he did.”
Wilcox’s eye for safety and keen awareness make him a highly trusted evaluator of newer team members. While it is not part of his regular workplace responsibilities, Wilcox provides detailed and timely evaluations of student conductors to help those in management determine whether a student is ready to become a certified conductor.
This safety awareness is not limited to meeting rooms and training scenarios. Wilcox has identified several near misses that have resulted in team members implementing crucial preventative safety measures. For example, a close call with a Class I partner on an intersecting track led to policies for stop sign use in the area and set up of a new radio base station to maintain contact between crews.
Outside of work, Wilcox is a dedicated member of his community and a doting single father to his five-year-old daughter.
“Wherever I am I give 100 percent,” said Wilcox. “It’s that way when I’m with my family at home. Then when I’m at work, you can call me Joe Watco. I give 100 percent to my work family, too.”
Watco Director of Safety Randy Burington, who nominated Wilcox for ASLRRA’s award, echoed these thoughts.
“Joe has built a reputation as a dedicated leader on his shift. His leadership is grounded in discipline, teamwork, and a deep sense of purpose,” said Burington. “Whether at work, at home or in service to his community, he brings passion, drive and heart to everything he does.”
